Under its new title, Championing the Farmed Environment, CFE will continue to support farmers to deliver environmental goods as part of a productive and profitable business.
In 2008, CFE was established as an industry initiative to promote and support the delivery of environmental benefits by farmers outside established agri-environment schemes. Through CFE, the farming industry showed its capacity and willingness to promote and deliver best-practice environmental management beyond policy requirements.
As founding partners of CFE, the NFU, AIC, CLA and GWCT have always represented key players within the agricultural community and identified strongly with the central principles of sustainable farming practice delivering for both the environment and farm businesses. To this end, CFE is also supported and advised by organisations with specialisms in these areas; LEAF, AHDB and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, to mention but a few.
The government’s 25-year Environment Plan calls on the farming community to balance safe, traceable and high-quality British food with the protection and enhancement of the British countryside. This includes protecting the essential public goods it manages for the nation; clean air and water, healthy soils and a flourishing natural environment. In the context of this increased focus on environmental public goods in everyday farming practices, the work of the CFE is more important and relevant than ever.
Celebrating 10 years, and looking to the future
To celebrate the relaunch, the NFU is hosting a showcase event in London which will bring together representatives of CFE stakeholder organisations and members of the press. We will also be supporting events around the country, delivered by the CFE’s established network of regional coordinators, to talk to farmers and industry partners who are already involved with CFE about the future direction of the project, and encourage others to get involved.
NFU Deputy President Guy Smith said:
“Farmers have always balanced food production with care for wildlife and protecting soils and water. CFE is a unique industry-led partnership that has engaged thousands of farmers in environmental best practice over many years, and this relaunch highlights how we will continue to champion the farmed environment in the future. We look forward to working with our partners and the UK government to ensure the future delivery of CFE.”
This website has also been redesigned to make it easier for farmers to access the information they need to deliver environmental goods which work for their farms. The central themes of Soils, Water, Air and Wildlife set out actions which farmers can take to ensure their farms produce environmental benefits within the operation of a sustainable business. The site also connects farmers with the many organisations and projects that work alongside CFE, for example Tried & Tested and the Voluntary Initiative.